Article including multi-component fibers and hollow ceramic microspheres and methods of making and using the same

An article comprising:

• multi-component fibers having external surfaces and comprising at least a first polymeric composition and a second polymeric composition, wherein at least a portion of the external surfaces of the multi-component fibers comprises the first polymeric composition, wherein the multi-component fibers:
• are core-sheath fibers with a core comprising the second polymeric composition, and a sheath comprising the first polymeric composition surrounding the core;
• or
• are pie-wedge fibers comprising at least first and second wedges, wherein the first wedges comprise the first polymeric composition and the second wedges comprise the second polymeric composition,
• and wherein the multi-component fibers are autogenously bonded together at junction points with little or no flow of the first polymeric composition so that the sheath or the first wedges, respectively, are retained along the majority of the multi-component fibers;
• and
• hollow ceramic microspheres adhered at least to the first polymeric composition on the external surfaces of at least some of the multi-component fibers,
• wherein the hollow ceramic microspheres are present at a level of at least 70 percent by volume, based on the total volume of components of the article.